New Discussion about Key Date Regulation

On 10 November, 2006 the “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft” (German Research Foundation, DFG) proposed a modification of the German Stem Cell Act. In their recommendation “Stammzellforschung in Deutschland. Möglichkeiten und Perspektiven” they demand
“1) The key date regulation should be revoked. German research should be given access to new stem cell lines that are produced and used abroad, so long as these originate from “surplus” embryos.
2) The introduction of cell lines should also be permitted, if these are to be used for diagnostic, preventative or therapeutic purposes.
3) The threat of penalty for German scientists should be removed and the scope of the law should be limited unambiguously to the national territory.”

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (2006): Stammzellforschung in Deutschland - Möglichkeiten und Perspektiven. Stellungnahme der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.  Online Version(German)

On 16 July, 2007 the German National Ethics Council published a “statement about modifying the stem cell regulation”. 14 of 24 members advocated the suspension of the key date regulation as well as the decriminalisation of researchers, who collaborate in international stem cell projects. Instead of the key date regulation an official individual case examination of embryonic stem cells shall take place. Nine members see such a modification of the consensus from 2002 regarding the amendment of the stem cell regulation, that the whole debate about embryo protection in Germany shall be discussed all over again. Therefore some advocate the perpetuation of the hitherto existing key date, others a new debate of the embryo protection regulation. One member of the German National Ethics Council votes for bringing the key date forward.

Nationaler Ethikrat (2007): Zur Frage einer Änderung des Stammzellgesetzes. Stellungnahme. Online Version (German)

On 11 April, 2008 the German Bundestag agreed, after officially hearing the experts, to a one-time postponement of the key date from the 1 January, 2002 to the 1 May, 2007. Furthermore, only the usage of embryonic stem cells which are in the country shall be punished as long as no permit for it can be produced. Therefore legal clarity concerning German stem cell research is reached. With that one out of five draft laws was accepted in order to amend the stem cell law. Especially the total stem cell research liberalisation including individual case control, for importing as well as the complete prohibition of stem cell research were refused.

The Motion (16/7981) of the representative René Röspel (SPD - Social Democratic Party), Ilse Aigner (CDU - Christian Democracy Union / CSU - Christian Social Union) and Jörg Tauss (SPD): Draft law to amend the stem cell law. Online Version(German)

Wird geladen